Step by step interior cleaning

Interior detailing is often ignored by detailers who seem to believe their skill as a detailer centers exclusively on their ability to restore a paint finish to a flawless, scratch-free, glossy shine.

However, the interior is as important, if not more important, than the exterior of the vehicle since this is where the motorist spends their time in the automobile.

Moreover, women drivers are especially sensitive to the vehicle interior, more so than men. Considering that over 50 percent of the drivers on the road today are women, and they account for over 58 percent of the automotive services purchased, today's detailer needs to focus more on learning about the materials in the interior and how to effectively clean and restore them to a like-new condition.

Interior materials

To prove a point, listed below are the many materials that are used in today's vehicles so you can get an idea how complicated proper and professional interior cleaning is:

A true "professional" will be able to identify all of the materials, and not only understand the nature of the material, but identify cleaning problems and have the tools, chemicals and knowledge of correction procedures. It should never be, "guess and trial and error," which has been the modus operandi of the detailer. Try something and if it works, great.

I would hate to think my doctor worked on my body with that kind of mentality.

To make an analogy, the doctor is educated and proven to understand every organ in the body; has knowledge of every disease that can affect these organs; and, in most cases, is knowledgeable on how to correct the problem. On the other hand, if they are not able, they do "know what they don't know," and they refer you to a "specialist".

With this knowledge, the doctor can diagnose the problem, finally identify the problem and find a solution.

Let us use an example closer to home: The auto mechanic. You bring in your vehicle that is not operating properly. He asks you to tell him what is happening and then he will do a couple of things:

Listen to the car;

Take it for a test drive to ascertain the problem; and

Put it on the computer to see what it says.

In short, he diagnoses the problem to determine how to fix it.

Then, a professional auto repair specialist will have all of the equipment, tools and access to supplies and chemicals needed to repair the problem.

Equipment, tools, supplies, chemicals

A true professional detailer will not only have the knowledge of the materials they will be working with and the knowledge of how to correct the problem, but they will have all of the equipment, tools, supplies and chemicals required to make the correction. It does not make much sense to know your materials, be able to identify the problem, know how to correct the problem but not have the necessary equipment, tools, supplies and chemicals to do the cleaning and correction. Unfortunately, that is all too often the case with detailers. Their excuse, "I can't afford everything I need," or "I don't need it." (The second is an excuse for not being able to afford it).

Unfortunately, even those who can afford to have some equipment, tools, supplies and chemicals do not have all they need and do not have the true knowledge of what they are doing. No training.

Equipment

So what equipment do you need to clean and detail today's interiors? The following list is what every detailer who claims to be a professional should have in their arsenal:

A powerful vacuum

A heated soil extractor

A vapor steamer

An ozone generator or fogger

An interior dryer

Tools

Shampooer tool – air or electric

Nylon scrub brushes

Parts cleaning brush

Detail brushes

Detail tool brushes

Razor blade scraper

Supplies

Microfiber towels – one for glass, one for chemicals

Q-Tips

Scrubbie pads

Dressing applicator pads

Floor mats – either plastic or coated-paper

Seat covers

Loose items bags

Plastic or metal razors

Chemicals

The professional philosophy regarding chemical use is this: Use chemicals for what they were formulated for. Use carpet shampoo for carpets; glass cleaner for glass; extractor shampoo for extractors; leather cleaners for leathers, etc. As obvious as this might seem, far too many detailers use a degreaser, which is formulated to "burn" dirt off metal engine parts, as a carpet and interior cleaner. Of course it works. Joy could be used to wash your hair, but you would not, or should not, do that because of the damage to scalp and hair.

Keep in mind that you do not absolutely need every piece of equipment, such as a vapor steamer, but they do aid in getting a more effective and faster cleaning. Neither do you need an ozone generator, but it is very effective in eliminating odor.

The steps

Even with all of the right equipment, tools, supplies and chemicals at hand, if you do not have proper procedures this can be for naught if you or your employees miss or skip steps in the cleaning and shampooing process.

For that reason, as well as reducing the time to complete the job, you need a step-by-step procedure for a complete interior detail.

There can be many ways to detail an interior, but the one below was developed from a time and motion point of view to ensure that each and every part of the interior is cleaned or shampooed and treated with the least amount of wasted motion and time.

Spray doorjamb and door edges with an all purpose cleaner (as needed) and wipe dry.

Dressing/conditioning procedure

Starting on the driver's side, move front to back and dress all vinyl, leather and rubber in the interior. Wipe off with dry towel for satin finish.

Window cleaning procedure

Spray all interior windows and mirrors with glass cleaner.

Using window towel, clean each window individually and dry.

Put all windows down and clean top edge, put up again.

Final inspection procedure

Make complete check of interior, looking for dirt on carpets, improper application of dressing, dirty/smeared windows and correct.

Do a final vacuum (if necessary).

Spray deodorizer under front seats.

Put in plastic floor mat, seat cover and litter bag.

Put in window sticker reminder (if used).

There you have it, a complete anatomy of what is needed to end up with a clean and flawless interior. Two detailers with the recommended equipment, tools, supplies and chemicals, following the procedures outlined above were able to clean the inside of an average dirty Chevrolet Tahoe in 36 minutes, a total of fewer than 1.5 man-hours.

R.L. "Bud" Abraham is president of Detail Plus Car Appearance Systems, Portland, OR, and a nearly 40-year member of the car care industry. He is also the executive director of the International Detailing Association and a member of the Western Carwash Association Board of Directors. Abraham can be contacted at buda@detailplus.com.

Bud Abraham is the detail editor for Professional Carwashing & Detailing.